Six Illini Named 2021 Team Captains

Kramer, Hansen and Hayes - first three-time captains in Illinois football history.

Illinois Athletics Communication

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois football team named six captains for the 2021 season: Tony Adams, Owen Carney Jr., Jake Hansen, Blake Hayes, Doug Kramer, and Vederian Lowe. The captains were selected by a vote of the players.

Courtesy Illinois Football

Kramer, Hansen, and Hayes were named captains for the third consecutive year, marking the first three-time captains in Illinois program history.

Tony Adams

  • Fourth-year starting defensive back
  • First-time team captain
  • 2021 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten fourth team

Owen Carney Jr.

  • First-time team captain
  • 2021 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten first team
  • 2021 Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten second team
  • Represented Illinois at Big Ten Media Days

Jake Hansen

  • Fourth-year starting linebacker
  • Three-time team captain
  • 2021 Phil Steele Preseason All-American fourth team
  • 2021 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten first team
  • 2021 Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten second team
  • 2021 PFF Preseason All-Big Ten third team

Blake Hayes

  • Fifth-year starting punter
  • Three-time team captain
  • 2021 PFF Preseason All-Big Ten second team
  • 2021 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten third team
  • 2021 Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten third team
  • 2019 Big Ten Punter of the Year

Doug Kramer

  • Fourth-year starting center
  • Three-time team captain
  • 2021 PFF Preseason All-America honorable mention
  • 2021 PFF Preseason All-Big Ten second team
  • 2021 Rimington Award watch list
  • 2021 Outland Trophy watch list
  • 2021 Rotary Lombardi Award watch list
  • Represented Illinois at Big Ten Media Days

Vederian Lowe

  • Fifth-year starting offensive lineman
  • First-time team captain
  • 2021 Outland Trophy watch list
  • Represented Illinois at Big Ten Media Days

 

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